Discover Coastal Dream Towns

California has a few surprises left along its popular coastline.
This one sits halfway between L.A. and San Francisco.

By Heather John

Sandy beaches and a balmy breeze usually translate into crowds.
But the bohemian backwater of Cayucos has managed to operate
happily below the tourism radar of California's Central Coast. On a
sunny Saturday morning, a handful of die hard surfers brave the
waves, while a lone fisherman tries his luck off the town's
historic pier. Main Street can't help but be picturesque, with its
funky old buildings, antiques shops, and seafood cafes.

Still, even on weekends, it seems more like a ghost town than
prime seaside real estate just 21 miles northwest of San Luis
Obispo, the county seat and home to Cal Poly (California
Polytechnic State University). Cayucos is a place that time forgot.
That, according to locals, is its biggest selling point.

With the area so glorious, says artist Peter Ladochy (known
statewide for his mosaic murals), "it's a struggle to keep it from
becoming like the rest of California. Cayucos is still a
haven."

The name Cayucos (pronounced Ki-YOO-kus) comes from the
kayak-like boats used by Chumash Indians who settled here 10,000
years ago. Europeans came later. In the 1860s, Capt. James Cass
built the town's wharf, which remains as a public pier. History
provides the foundation for community life.

Archaeologist John Parker moved here 12 years ago. "The central
California coast was intriguing," he says. "I stopped in Cayucos on
vacation and knew I wanted to live here." John's relocation proved
to be professionally beneficial. "There are prehistoric cultures
dating back 9,000 years," he says. Remnants from Chumash and
Salinan village life give him plenty to study.

Peter, the muralist, also uses the area's ancestry as the focus
for his work. For a mosaic sculpture in Hardie Park, he consulted
with tribe representatives. Locals helped construct a megalith
honoring the region's first inhabitants. "For years, this sculpture
will serve its community, reflecting a heritage we can all learn
from with pride," Peter says. The idea works, as residents choose
this park as a gathering spot.

Muriel Wright, another local artist, calls it "a wonderful place
to sit, drink in the sunshine, and contemplate this beautiful
area.